小绒泡菌生活史及其形态建成期显微结构的观察

在完成小绒泡菌Physaum pusillum生活史的同时,观察了小绒泡菌P. pusillum生活史不同阶段显微结构的形成。生活史研究结果表明：小绒泡菌P. pusillum的孢子萌发方式为裂式,黏变形体具两根鞭毛,较短一根不易观察到,原质团类型为显型原质团,子实体形态建成过程约需12-13h。显微结构观察结果表明：石灰结和孢丝结构在原质团隆起约6h后开始形成,孢子在原质团隆起约9h后开始形成,石灰结和孢丝先于孢子形成。     

淡黄绒泡菌和全白绒泡菌孢囊形成过程显微观察的染色差异

为了研究黏菌孢囊形成过程中显微结构的变化,文中探讨了番红-固绿和铁帆-苏木精染色条件下淡黄绒泡菌和全白绒泡菌孢囊不同发育阶段显微结构的差异显示效果。结果表明：在幼孢囊中原质团有种水平的割裂,大割裂和微割裂,这些割裂和孢丝及孢子的形成有关;全白绒泡菌囊轴表现了和孢囊柄不一致的状态和染色结果;番红-固绿染色下,淡黄绒泡菌在孢囊形成前期原质团被染成淡红色,可以分辨出大量游离存在的细胞核;孢囊壁及囊轴被染成绿色,孢子灰绿色;全白绒泡菌原质团被染成绿色,初期可见较厚孢囊壁,囊轴绿色。铁帆-苏木精染色下,淡黄绒泡菌和全白绒泡菌原质团均被染成灰色,囊壁不明显,成熟孢子发生皱缩。     

扁绒泡菌孢子形成过程超微结构

诱导扁绒泡菌显型原质团形成子实体并观察在形成过程中孢囊的超微结构,结果表明,全部原质团参入形成孢子及孢丝;孢子形成初期原质团聚缩使原生质密度加大,脂滴密度也增加;液泡联合形成液泡网体分割原质团,孢子及孢丝一同形成;相邻孢子初始形成的孢子壁可见吻合的突起和凹陷,这是孢子成熟后的表面纹饰部分;孢子壁随孢囊发育逐渐达到适宜位置,孢子壁由透明内层及电子密度较大的外层组成;随后可见外有疣突,内含脂滴的圆形孢子。     

实验室培养条件下绒泡菌科四种黏菌个体发育比较研究

本文应用悬滴培养、燕麦-琼脂培养等方法及显微成像技术对绒泡菌科Physaraceae 4种黏菌（黄头绒泡菌Physarum flavicomum、淡黄绒泡菌Physarum melleum、垂头绒泡菌Physarum album、针箍菌Physarella oblonga）的个体发育特征进行比较研究,首次实现了垂头绒泡菌在实验室条件下的完整生活循环。4种黏菌孢子萌发均为V-型开裂,但萌发时间有所不同,黄头绒泡菌萌发所需时间最短,仅需5h,而针箍菌萌发所需时间最长,需要2d;针箍菌和淡黄绒泡菌形成的黏变形体均可转变为游动胞,而相同条件下黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌并未有游动胞形成;4种黏菌原生质团的生长速率不同,在光照刺激下针箍菌、淡黄绒泡菌、黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌的原生质团分别经过2-3d、2-3d、7d和13d,发育成子实体;完成孢子到孢子的整个生活史,针箍菌和淡黄绒泡菌需要25-30d,黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌需要40-45d。     

细弱绒泡菌的生活史

利用燕麦-琼脂培养、基物培养及扫描电镜技术研究了细弱绒泡菌的个体发育过程,在燕麦琼脂培养基上完成了从孢子到孢子的生活史。结果表明,细弱绒泡菌生活史包括单核的黏变形体或游动胞、多核的营养体原质团以及孢子形成阶段。孢子球形,表面具细小疣点。孢子萌发为裂式,释放1黏变形体。黏变形体行变形运动,在有水的条件下,可转变为游动胞。成熟原质团橘黄色。原质团类型为显型,具有扇形网络状菌脉。成熟原质团可形成多个孢囊。琼脂培养基上获得的细弱绒泡菌孢子与野生型相似,并具有可育性。     

扁绒泡菌的生活史

黏菌的生活史对于研究其营养方式的多样性以及系统发育等具有重要价值,目前国内外有关黏菌生活史的报导很少。利用燕麦-琼脂培养、基物培养及扫描电镜技术研究了扁绒泡菌的个体发育过程,在燕麦琼脂培养基上完成了从孢子到孢子的生活史。结果表明,扁绒泡菌生活史包括单核的黏变形体或游动胞、多核的营养体原质团以及孢子形成阶段。孢子球形,表面具细小疣点。孢子萌发为裂式,释放1黏变形体。原质团类型为显型。成熟原质团乳白色,可形成多个孢囊。琼脂培养基上获得的扁绒泡菌孢子与野生型相似,并具有可育性。     

灰花纹鹅膏菌(Amanita fuliginea)子实体发育及核相观察

采用石蜡切片、压片等方法对灰花纹鹅膏菌(Amanita fuliginea)子实体发育过程进行了观察,并用核荧光染料Hoechst 33258对灰花纹鹅膏菌子实体发育过程中的核相变化进行了观察。结果表明,灰花纹鹅膏菌子实体发育是典型的半被果型发育,菌褶是子实层同时发育类型,属于同型菌髓。在子实体发育过程中,单倍的二核担子核配后形成短暂的二倍体单核担子,经过减数分裂形成四核担子,有近40%的担子中核再进行一次有丝分裂形成8核担子,担子进一步发育产生担孢子,其中,二核担孢子约占95%,单核担孢子约2.4%,三核孢子2%左右,4核担孢子约0.4%。灰花纹鹅膏菌基因组中染色体数目2n=10条。     

全白绒泡菌部分生活史图解

为深入了解全白绒泡菌生活史过程,对其孢子萌发、黏变形体和游动胞的相互转变、游动胞在5 s内的运动轨迹及原质团形成孢囊的过程进行了显微镜下观察和拍照,并对部分生活史阶段进行了时间测定,提出黏菌孢子萌发的第三种方式,提供了清晰的全白绒泡菌部分生活史的图片。     

中国绒泡菌属粘菌的分类学研究I.产自东北的三个新种

在近年来对中国绒泡菌属粘菌的分类学研究中,观察到许多不寻常和有趣的标本,其中一些与目前已知的绒泡菌均不吻合,形态学研究表明它们是新种。本文报告了3个产自我国东北的绒泡菌属新种,它们是：产自吉林省的环柄绒泡菌Physarum annulipes和青灰绒泡菌Physarum caesium及产自内蒙古自治区的木生绒泡菌Physarum xylophilum。环柄绒泡菌的孢囊柄具有环带,较为特殊;青灰绒泡菌的囊被有一粉状物质层,但其中的钙含量远低于其它大多数绒泡菌;木生绒泡菌的球形白色的孢囊有柄、群生、直立,具纵皱的柄褐色而不透明,囊基盘状,石灰结较小、多角形或伸长,孢子匀生小疣但一侧色浅。文中对它们进行了形态学描述和讨论,并附有扫描电镜下的特征照片,模式标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室(HMAS)。     

TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON PHYSARUM FROM CHINA I. THREE NEW SPECIES FROM NORTHEASTERN CHINA

在近年来对中国绒泡菌属粘菌的分类学研究中,观察到许多不寻常和有趣的标本,其中一些与目前已知的绒泡菌均不吻合,形态学研究表明它们是新种。本文报告了３个产自我国东北的绒泡菌属新种,它们是：产自吉林省的环柄绒泡菌Ｐｈｙｓａｒｕｍａｎｎｕｌｉｐｅｓ和青灰绒泡菌Ｐｈｙｓａｒｕｍｃａｅｓｉｕｍ及产自内蒙古自治区的木生绒泡菌Ｐｈｙｓａｒｕｍｘｙｌｏｐｈｉｌｕｍ。环柄绒泡菌的孢囊柄具有环带,较为特殊;青灰绒泡菌的囊被有一粉状物质层,但其中的钙含量远低于其它大多数绒泡菌;木生绒泡菌的球形白色的孢囊有柄、群生、直立,具纵皱的柄褐色而不透明,囊基盘状,石灰结较小、多角形或伸长,孢子匀生小疣但一侧色浅。文中对它们进行了形态学描述和讨论,并附有扫描电镜下的特征照片,模式标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室（ＨＭＡＳ）。     

Effects on Bacillus subtilis of a conditional lethal mutation in the essential GTP-binding protein Obg.

The obg gene is part of the spo0B sporulation operon and codes for a GTP-binding protein which is essential for growth. A temperature-sensitive mutant in the obg gene was isolated and found to be the result of two closely linked missense mutations in the amino domain of Obg. Temperature shift experiments revealed that the mutant was able to continue cell division for 2 to 3 generations at the nonpermissive temperature. Such experiments carried out during sporulation showed that Obg was necessary for the transition from vegetative growth to stage 0 or stage II of sporulation, but sporulation subsequent to these stages was unaffected at the nonpermissive temperature. Spores of the temperature-sensitive mutant germinated normally at the nonpermissive temperature but failed to outgrow. The primary consequence of the obg mutation may be an alteration in initiation of chromosome replication.     

Sporogenesis in Streptomyces melanochromogenes

The mode of spore differentiation in a strain of Streptomyces melanochromogenes was followed by analysis of ultrathin sections of sporulating aerial hyphae at various stages of sporogenesis. A special accent was laid on the formation of the sporulation septum and its alterations in the course of spore delimitation and separation. Distinct differences in formation and substructure have been observed between the cross walls of vegetative hyphae and the sporulation septa.Cross walls of vegetative hyphae are formed in a way typical for Gram-positive bacteria by a centripetal annular ingrowth of cytoplasmic membrane, on which wall material immediately is deposited. The development of the sporulation septa is characterized by the accumulation of amorphous material in addition to the newly synthesized wall layer inside the invaginating cytoplasmic membrane. This amorphous septal material will later be decomposed presumably by two lytic systems which cause the separation of the spores. The central region of the finished sporulation septum is perforated by microplasmodesmata. Spores are released by a break down of the surface sheath. The complete spores are enveloped by a twolayered cell wall and the spiny surface sheath.     

Analysis of the germination of spores of Bacillus subtilis with temperature sensitive spo mutations in the spoVA operon

A Bacillus subtilis strain with a base substitution in the ribosome-binding site of spoVAC was temperature sensitive (ts) in sporulation and spores prepared at the permissive temperature were ts in L-alanine-triggered germination, but not in germination with Ca2+-dipicolinic acid (DPA) or dodecylamine. Spores of a ts spo mutant with a missense mutation in the spoVAC coding region were not ts for germination with l-alanine, dodecylamine or Ca2+-DPA. These findings are discussed in light of the proposal that SpoVA proteins are involved not only in DPA uptake during sporulation, but also in DPA release during nutrient-mediated spore germination.     

Effect of depletion of FtsY on spore morphology and the protein composition of the spore coat layer in Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis FtsY is a homolog of the alpha-subunit of mammalian signal recognition particle (SRP) receptor, and is essential for protein translocation and vegetative cell growth. An FtsY conditional null mutant (strain ISR39) can express ftsY during the vegetative stage but not during spore formation. Spores of ISR39 have the same resistance to heat and chloroform as the wild-type, while their resistance to lysozyme is reduced. Electron microscopy showed that the outer coat of spores was incompletely assembled. The coat protein profile of the ftsY mutant spores was different from that of wild-type spores. The amounts of CotA, and CotE were reduced in spore coat proteins of ftsY mutant spores and the molecular mass of CotB was reduced. In addition, CotA, CotB, and CotE are present in normal form at T(8) of sporulation in ftsY mutant cells. These results suggest that FtsY has a pivotal role in assembling coat proteins onto the coat layer during spore morphogenesis.     

Colony development in Streptomyces carpinensis: a streptomycete with substrate mycelium spores

In this paper we present an ultrastructural study of spore formation in aerial vs. substrate mycelia of Streptomyces carpinensis. Both mycelia initiated spore formation at nearly the same time of colony development but exhibited different patterns of spatial localization of sporulation: spore formation took place throughout the aerial mycelium whereas in the substrate mycelium was confined to a narrow zone at the bottom of the colony. The ultrastructural changes leading to spore formation, however, were quite similar in both mycelia, differing only with respect to the outer components of the sporal wall. Spores formed in the aerial mycelium were covered by a thin sheath whereas the spores formed in the substrate mycelium were covered by an amorphous electron-dense material.     

Formation and composition of the Bacillus anthracis endospore

The endospores of Bacillus anthracis are the infectious particles of anthrax. Spores are dormant bacterial morphotypes able to withstand harsh environments for decades, which contributes to their ability to be formulated and dispersed as a biological weapon. We monitored gene expression in B. anthracis during growth and sporulation using full genome DNA microarrays and matched the results against a comprehensive analysis of the mature anthrax spore proteome. A large portion (approximately 36%) of the B. anthracis genome is regulated in a growth phase-dependent manner, and this regulation is marked by five distinct waves of gene expression as cells proceed from exponential growth through sporulation. The identities of more than 750 proteins present in the spore were determined by multidimensional chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Comparison of data sets revealed that while the genes responsible for assembly and maturation of the spore are tightly regulated in discrete stages, many of the components ultimately found in the spore are expressed throughout and even before sporulation, suggesting that gene expression during sporulation may be mainly related to the physical construction of the spore, rather than synthesis of eventual spore content. The spore also contains an assortment of specialized, but not obviously related, metabolic and protective proteins. These findings contribute to our understanding of spore formation and function and will be useful in the detection, prevention, and early treatment of anthrax. This study also highlights the complementary nature of genomic and proteomic analyses and the benefits of combining these approaches in a single study.     

Cortex content of asporogenous mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

A method for the measurement of muramic lactam, which is specifically located in the cortical peptidoglycan of bacterial spores, was developed as a quantitative assay method for spore cortex content. During sporulation of Bacillus subtilis 168, muramic lactam (i.e., spore cortex) began to appear at state IV of sporulation and continued to increase over most of the late stages of sporulation. Spore cortex contents of various spo mutants of B. subitils were surveyed. Cortex was not detected in mutants in which sporulation was blocked earlier than stage II sporulation. Spores of spo IV mutant had about 40% of the cortex content of the wild-type spores. One spo III mutant had a low amount of cortex, but four others had none.     

Influence of the sporulation temperature upon the heat resistance of Bacillus subtilis

The influence of different sporulation temperatures (30, 37, 44 and 52°C) upon heat resistance of Bacillus subtilis was investigated.
Heat resistance was greater after higher sporulation temperatures. Relation of heat resistance and temperature of sporulation was not linear over all the range of temperatures tested. Heat resistance increased about tenfold in the range of 30–44°C. Sporulation at 52°C did not show any further increase in heat resistance.
This effect was constant over all the range of heating temperatures tested (100–120°C). z value remained constant ( z = 9°C).
Greater heat resistances at higher temperatures of sporulation were not due to selection of more heat resistant cells by a higher sporulation temperature. Spores obtained from cells incubated at 32 or 52°C always possessed heat resistances that corresponded to the sporulation temperature regardless of the incubation temperature of their vegetative cells.     

Perturbation of the heat resistance of bacterial spores by sporulation temperature and ethanol

Spores ofBacillus megaterium, B. subtilis, andB. stearothermophilus, harvested from cultures grown and sporulated at different temperatures or in the presence of ethanol, had different thermal resistance. There was a direct relationship between the sporulation temperature and the spore-killing temperature. The spores were more temperature-sensitive when formed in ethanol-supplemented media. Temperature and ethanol are known to perturb the degree of order within membranes and to alter membrane functions. Thus, alteration of spore membranes is an additional factor in the multifactorial nature of heat resistance. Another interpretation may be that heat shock proteins, known to be induced by heat, are formed during sporulation and may increase the thermostability of the spores.     

Variations in activity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases as a function of development in Bacillus subtilis

Extracts from Bacillus sublilis cells at various stages of growth and spores were assayed for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and methionyl-tRNA transformylase activity. There was no major change in any synthetase activity or in methionyl-tRNA transformylase activity during the sporulation cycle, which implies that these are not sporulation induced enzymes. However, extracts from B. subtilis cultures showed a burst of activity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases during exponential growth.Preparations from dormant spores possessed the same kinds of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities as vegetative cells for all the amino acids which were studied. Spores also contained methionyl-tRNA transformylases. These findings suggest that spores ought to be able to aminoacylate tRNA and formylate the initiator. N-formylmethionyl-tRNA, immediately upon germination.